Arthur Russell Tracy (Rusty)

Arthur Russell Tracy, Jr. [Rusty], age 73, of Franklin, Kentucky, passed away Saturday, November 21st, 2020, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, following a lengthy illness.

Russ was born on August 29th, 1947, in Flint, Michigan, to the late Arthur Russell Tracy, Sr and Sara Gossett Tracy.  He was also preceded in death by a younger sister, Patricia Lee Tracy.

Mr. Tracy volunteered for military service in 1966 and was trained as a Navy corpsman. In 1968 he was assigned to the Marine’s 9th Engineers Battalion in Chu Lai, Vietnam and ended his tour of duty at the Marine Induction Center, Parris Island, South Carolina.

In 1974, Russ received a B.A. degree in History from Western Kentucky University.  He also attended the Medical University of South Carolina, as part of the MEDEX program for veterans.  In 2004, Russ retired from the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Asheville, NC, after 32 years of service as a Physician Assistance in Rehab Medicine.

After retiring and moving back to Kentucky, Russ became active in the Franklin Vietnam Veterans Association and was on the board of the Simpson County Historical Society.  Working primarily with picture restoration, he was also responsible for creating a military records file for Simpson County veterans.  Recently he was inducted into the Sons of Confederate Veterans organization.

Rusty attended Franklin Presbyterian Church where he served as an usher and was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Asheville, North Carolina.

Mr. Tracy is survived by his wife of fifty years, Carolle Chaney Tracy; two children, Jennifer Tracy Macias and spouse, Ricardo of Asheville, NC, and Jonathan Russell Tracy of Franklin, KY.; five grandchildren, Angelina Macias, Tracie Macias, Landon Macias, Luke Tracy and Mark Macias; one great-grandchild, Christopher Macias; sister-in-law, Gayle Chaney; and two nephews, Stephen Mayes and Craig Mayes.

A private family service will be held on November 24th in the chapel of Gilbert Funeral home.  Friends are invited to attend the graveside service, which will follow at 12:30pm, at Greenlawn Cemetery.  Both services will be under the direction of Gilbert Funeral Home, Franklin, KY.

Friends are asked to help prevent the spread of Covid19, by saving your hugs for another day, following social distancing guidelines, and wearing masks.

The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be made to the Simpson County Historical Society, 206 North College Street, Franklin, Kentucky 42134

Online condolences may be made at www.gilbertfhonline.com and the complete obituary may be read on our Facebook page, Gilbert Funeral Home of Franklin, Kentucky.